BASEBALL: For Yucaipa's Taijuan Walker, Matt Davidson, the Futures is now

Once teammates on one of the most talented teams in San Bernardino County history at Yucaipa High School in 2009, today could be their last time as teammates for the foreseeable future.

Which would be fine with them, because the next stop after today's All-Star Futures Game at Citi Field in New York for Yucaipa High graduates Taijuan Walker and Matt Davidson could very well be the big leagues.

"I knew Matt was going to do it, because he's had scouts following him since the eighth grade," Walker said. "And he's still getting bigger and better. I think myself and everyone else thought he was going to make it to the big leagues. As for me, my senior year I got drafted, but being at Triple-A, it really hasn't hit me."

There are similarities and differences to their paths. Although Davidson, 22, had a head start by graduating high school in 2009 and Walker, 20, graduated in 2010, both were supplemental first-round picks by their respective organizations and were considered to be big-league prospects immediately.

"Matt came from a grounded family," Yucaipa coach Jeff Stout said. "Taijuan grew up on the hard side. Is he going be OK? Is he going to be mature enough? He's done a fabulous job."

Davidson, a third baseman in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, has made a steady climb up the rungs of the organizational ladder. He showed power in his second pro season, in 2010, when he hit 16 home runs in 113 games for low Single-A South Bend.

He then got a taste of home at the end of 2010 and for all of the 2011 season with Visalia, although he was sharing the third base position with first-round pick Bobby Borchering.

He got third base to himself last year at Double-A Mobile, hitting .261 with 23 home runs and 76 RBIs, and he was named the Diamondbacks' No. 5 prospect by Baseball America.

"It helped playing third base every day," Davidson said.

So this year, promoted to Triple-A Reno, he has the highest batting average of his career (.291), while belting 14 home runs and driving in 59 runs.

Davidson will also play in the Triple-A All-Star Game hosted by Reno on Wednesday.

Walker's rise has been a little bit faster as a right-handed starting pitcher in the Seattle Mariners' organization.

After making just four rookie-ball appearances in 2010, he went 6-5 with a 2.89 ERA for low single-A Clinton in 2011.

He jumped past High Desert and the California League the next year to Double-A Jackson, where he struggled a bit, going 7-10 with a 4.69 ERA, although he was still named the Mariners' No. 2 prospect this year.

He started this season back at Jackson and improved, going 4-7 with a 2.46 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 84 innings. He had four of his losses and three no-decisions when he allowed two earned runs or less.

That earned him a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma, where he has been nothing short of spectacular. In three starts with Tacoma, he is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 16 innings.

"My command is better. I can throw my curveball for strikes in any count, whenever I need it," Walker said. "The changeup has been good lately. I've added a cutter to help them to stay off my fastball. I picked up on it (cutter) so fast. I pretty much use that every game. I try to mix in all four (pitches)."

He's excited about his second Futures Game trip.

"I'm just going to go out and soak it all in," he said. "Hopefully I can hang out with Matt."

Of the two, Stout saw star potential instantly in Davidson.

"He was one of my only kids to play varsity as a freshman," Stout said. "He had all the makings of a legit guy."

Walker and Davidson faced each other in two games in Double-A last year. They were scheduled to face each other on Friday in Tacoma, but Walker left early for New York. Davidson is 0 for 5 with a walk against Walker.

"He knows he can't leave it out over the plate, because I'll hit it out," Davidson said with a laugh.

Walker was more serious. "If I leave it over the plate, it's going 500 (feet) plus. Being a power pitcher, it could be scary," he said.

There will be another chance as Tacoma plays at Reno from July 26-29, and Stout is ready to attend, although they could be in the big leagues then.